Walter Swennen (1946-2025) - zonder titel

Walter Swennen (1946–2025)

Untitled, 1989
Color lithography
Artists' trial (A.P.) 3/23
Signed and dated bottom right (WS 1989)
Format: approximately 46 × 36 cm (image), with full margin.
Condition: very good

A rare and highly sought-after artist’s proof by Walter Swennen, one of the most influential Belgian artists of recent decades. This work from 1989 perfectly showcases his typical blend of absurd poetry, graphic directness, and playful imagery. The combination of a bright blue background with expressive black lines makes this print a prime example of Swennen's distinctive and instantly recognizable style.

Swennen began his career as a poet, and you can feel that in the way he 'lets images speak.' His drawings and lithographs balance between spontaneous and deliberate, between cartoonish humor and philosophical seriousness. This work is an excellent example of that.

The symbol (⸻)

Context & Relevance

Walter Swennen has been rediscovered internationally in recent years, with exhibitions at WIELS (Brussels), Kunsthalle Zürich, MAC’s Grand-Hornu, and achieving icon status in Belgian contemporary art. Collections worldwide show great interest in his prints and multiples, especially early editions and artist proofs, which are significantly rarer than the regular edition.

Artists frequently compared to Swennen to attract searchers.
Philip Guston – playful, cartoonish visual language with an existential undertone.
Jean-Michel Basquiat – expressive lines, seemingly naive symbolism
Pierre Alechinsky – spontaneous calligraphic touch, humorous imagination
Michaël Borremans / Raoul De Keyser – as part of the strong Belgian painting tradition.
Henri Michaux – poetic, expressive, between language and image.
Keith Haring – graphic clarity and playful iconography

Through these references, the work will appear within search filters of buyers interested in contemporary, expressive, and graphically strong artists.

The symbol (⸻)

Why this work is interesting for collectors
Artist Proof (A.P.) 3/23 — rarer than the regular edition
Early work from 1989, a sought-after period.
Signed, dated, and in good condition.
A strong example of Swennen's pictorial humor and visual poetry.
International market on the rise.
Perfectly suitable for both beginner and advanced collectors of Belgian contemporary art.